Cannot highlight text in Internet Explorer 8 by clicking and dragging mouse.

For the past 3 days, I have not been able to highlight text by clicking and dragging my mouse in internet explorer 8. I've tried resetting internet explorer, changing my mouse settings, trying a new mouse, and ensuring all of my microsoft updates are current. (I can highlight text by clicking at the end of a word, pressing shift, and then clicking at the beginning of the word). Highlighting text by clicking and dragging also works in other programs (word, excel). Why is this problem occurring in IE and how do I resolve it ?

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Answer

SpiritX MS MVP replied on

MVP Community Moderator Community Star

Hi,

You might want to run through the below and if no joy then try a System Restore.

How to Do a System Restore in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

What antivirus/antispyware/security product do you have on machine? Include any you have EVER has on this
machines including those you uninstalled (they leave remnants behind which can cause strange issues).

If no joy something maybe blocking it.

Start - All Programs - Accessores - System Tools - IE with no Addons - does this work better?

IE - Tools - Internet Options - Advanced Tab - click Restore then click Reset - Apply / OK

IE - Tools - Internet Options - Security Tab - click reset all zones to default - Apply / OK

Close and restart IE and/or IE with no addons

any better?

IE - Tools - Manage Addons (for sure disable SSV2 if it is there, this is no longer needed but Java still installs it
and it causes issues - you ever update Java go back in and disable it again.) Look for other possible problems.

Windows Defender - Tools - Software Explorer - look for issues with programs that do not look right. Permitted
are usually OK and "not permitted" are not always bad. If in doubt about a program ask about it here.

Could be a BHO - BHOremover - Free - standalone program, needs no install, download and run - not all
are bad however some can cause your issue (Toolbars are BHO's).
http://securityxploded.com/bhoremover.php

Startup Programs
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/79612-startup-programs-enable-disable.html

Also get Malwarebytes - free - use as scanner only.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

--------------------------------

Try these to clear corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files.

Run DiskCleanup - Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup

Start - type in Search box - COMMAND find at top of list - RIGHT CLICK - RUN AS ADMIN

sfc /scannow

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program
generates in Windows Vista cbs.log
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

Then run checkdisk - schedule it to run at next start and then Apply OK your way out then restart.

How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

Hope this helps.

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

All Replies (3)

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AErickson replied on

I have been having the same problems and I checked everything you did through trial and error. Go to Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, make sure that "Double click to open, single click to select", is checked. If that does not cure the problem go back to Control Panel and select Mouse, Buttons, Under Double-Click Speed, slow the mouse down.

P.S. You might want to clear all temporary internet files. Go to Tools, Internet Options, Browsing History, click Settings, click View Files,under Edit, Select all the files , then under Folder Task, delete the selected items. Above all do not forget to restart your computer after making changes. GOOD LUCK!

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Yurikiev replied on

Same problem here. I have not been able to select text in IE for some time. Well I found a simple solution. Switched to Firefox. Sorry my dear Microsoft, but your solutions are more complicated that an alternative web browser.